The All-New WiFi 6: How Will it Benefit Your Business?

Although Wi-Fi 6 came out in 2019, it hasn’t yet had a chance to make its way into businesses and homes and make as wide a market impact as 4G and 5G technology. Simply saying that Wi-Fi 6 will make your network faster is an oversimplification, as it is also reshaping wireless technology.

So, with that in mind, let’s try to answer some basic questions about what Wi-Fi 6 is, how it works, and draw a quick comparison with its predecessor.

What is Wi-Fi 6?

The technical name for Wi-Fi 6 is 802.11ax and it seeks to replace Wi-Fi 5 or 802.11ac as the standard wireless network transmitter. It isn’t a new way of connecting to the internet but instead, it’s an upgrade to the current standard that aims to take better advantage of the bandwidth and Wi-Fi signals.

The reason you may not have heard of “Wi-Fi 5” is that Wi-Fi Alliance decided only now to call the latest version Wi-Fi 6. Before this, it only used the technical names when talking about Wi-Fi, such as 802.11, 802.11ac, etc.

Wi-Fi 6 routers can be relatively costly, but they are generally turning out to be well worth the investment. Keep in mind, however, that like 5G, your device also needs to be Wi-Fi 6-compatible to take advantage of the technology.

What Does Wi-Fi 6 Offer?

Wi-Fi 6 claims to be 30% faster than its predecessor, which most businesses and wireless networks currently use. During testing, the systems performed at an average of 1,320 MBps (as high as 1,562 MBps). Wi-Fi 5, on the other hand, can transfer data at 938 MBps on average in real-time.

It is important to note that the current average download speed in the US stands at 119 MBps, meaning that Wi-Fi 6 is potentially 1000 times faster, which gives businesses plenty of room to scale as well. Even at a distance, Wi-Fi 6 can offer much smoother performance than its predecessor. Wi-Fi 6 also offers better coverage behind walls or other obstacles, providing a much better network environment.

However, the actual performance you experience may vary based on your network environment. You also need to consider your internet speed, the number of devices connected, their usage, and other essential ISP elements.

If you are looking to upgrade your network environment and are interested in the capabilities offered by Wi-Fi 6, we recommend you get in touch with Americom’s wireless experts. Not every business may need to invest in the new network technology right off the bat. Let us help you figure out what you need and how you can find it cost-effectively.